Publications

Abstract

Work ability, or the perception of one’s ability to work presently and in the future, may impact quality of life (QOL) among young adult (YA) cancer survivors. Through a convergent mixed methods design, we explored work ability, work-related goals, and QOL among YA hematologic cancer survivors within five years of diagnosis. We described associations at the individual- and microsystem (work)- levels; and compared factors across low and high work ability groups. Participants (N = 40) completed a survey and interview via digital platforms. Qualitative analysis revealed self-assessed declines in work ability led to questioning work-related goals and influenced QOL. Integrated analysis led to the development of four profiles, growing our understanding of work’s influence on QOL for YA cancer survivors, and identifying components YAs considered when contemplating work-related goals after a cancer diagnosis. Larger studies are needed to elucidate these profiles and identify modifiable factors to inform targeted interventions to improve QOL.

Abstract

Background: This study assessed changes in actigraphy-estimated sleep and glycemic outcomes after initiating automated insulin delivery (AID). Methods: Ten adults with long-standing type 1 diabetes and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) participated in an 18-month clinical trial assessing an AID intervention on hypoglycemia and counter-regulatory mechanisms. Data from eight participants (median age = 58 years) with concurrent wrist actigraph and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data were used in the present analyses. Actigraphs and CGM measured sleep and glycemic control at baseline (one week) and months 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 (three weeks) following AID initiation. HypoCount software integrated actigraphy with CGM data to separate wake and sleep-associated glycemic measures. Paired sample t-tests and Cohen’s d effect sizes modeled changes and their magnitude in sleep, glycemic control, IAH (Clarke score), hypoglycemia severity (HYPO score), hypoglycemia exposure (CGM), and glycemic variability (lability index [LI]; CGM coefficient-of-variation [CV]) from baseline to 18 months. Results: Sleep improved from baseline to 18 months (shorter sleep latency [P <.05, d = 1.74], later sleep offset [P <.05, d = 0.90], less wake after sleep onset [P <.01, d = 1.43]). Later sleep onset (d = 0.74) and sleep midpoint (d = 0.77) showed medium effect sizes. Sleep improvements were evident from 12 to 15 months after AID initiation and were preceded by improved hypoglycemia awareness (Clarke score [d = 1.18]), reduced hypoglycemia severity (HYPO score [d = 2.13]), reduced sleep-associated hypoglycemia (percent time glucose was < 54 mg/dL, < 60 mg/dL,< 70 mg/dL; d = 0.66-0.81), and reduced glucose variability (LI, d = 0.86; CV, d = 0.62). Conclusion: AID improved sleep initiation and maintenance. Improved awareness of hypoglycemia, reduced hypoglycemia severity, hypoglycemia exposure, and glucose variability preceded sleep improvements. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03215914 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03215914.

Abstract

The prevalence of behavioral health conditions among older adults continues to rise while the number of specialty providers remains low. Nurses caring for aging populations across care settings have opportunities to integrate behavioral healthcare into their practice with adults to promote wellness and avoid negative outcomes. Priority issues for integrated behavioral health among older adults include depression, substance use disorders, and neurocognitive conditions. Connections to professional organizations, timely continuing education, and integration of evidenced-based clinical protocols are vital for nurses to provide effective integrated care.

Abstract

Background: Half of all stroke survivors experience hemiparesis on the contralateral side, resulting in chronic upper extremity (UE) impairment. Remote rehabilitation is a promising approach to optimize the gains made in the clinic to maximize function and promote UE use at home. This paper describes the study protocol for a remote home-based UE self-training program. Design: This was a feasibility study that used a convergent mixed methods approach. Methods: We collected data on 15 community-dwelling individuals with UE hemiparesis after stroke. The study used motivational interviewing (MI) and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to maximize engagement in a 4-week personalized UE self-training program. The study consisted of three phases: 1) training in MI for the interventionists 2) creating customized treatment plans using shared decision making, and 3) four weeks of UE self-training. Measures and analysis: To evaluate feasibility, we will summarize recruitment and retention rates, intervention delivery, acceptance, adherence, and safety. Quantitative UE outcomes will measure change in UE status after the intervention (Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Motor Activity Log, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, and bilateral magnitude ratio). Qualitative data (1:1 semi-structured interviews) will capture participants’ perceptions and experience with the intervention. Quantitative and qualitative data will be integrated to gain a deeper understanding of the facilitators and barriers for engagement and adherence to UE self-training. Conclusion: The results of this study will advance the scientific knowledge for use of MI and EMA as methods for enhancing adherence and engagement in UE self-training in stroke rehabilitation. The ultimate impact of this research will be to improve UE recovery for individuals with stroke transitioning back into community. Clinical trials registration: NCT05032638.

Abstract

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience a high risk for psychological distress. Understanding what factors contributing to this risk is vital for developing effective interventions to address COPD-related psychological distress. To examine psychological distress and its associated factors in COPD patients in China. This is a cross-sectional study. Using cluster random sampling, 351 COPD patients participated in and completed a questionnaire survey from June 2021 to January 2022. Instruments used in this research included a self-designed social-demographic questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), the COPD Knowledge Question, the Type D Personality Scale (DS-14), the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Score (mMRC). Multivariate linear regressions were used in the final analysis. Among 351 COPD patients, 307 (or 87.5%) had psychological distress. Our univariate analysis indicated that psychological distress scores were significantly associated with monthly household income (F = 2.861, P < 0.05), exercise frequency (F = 4.039, P < 0.01), type D personality (t = 5.843, P < 0.01), years with COPD (rs = 0.156, P < 0.01), frequency of acute exacerbation (rs = 0.114, P < 0.05), mMRC score (rs = 0.301, P < 0.01), and CAT score (rs = 0.415, P < 0.01). Our final multivariate linear regression showed that exercise frequency (coefficient = −1.012, P < 0.01) was an independent protective factor of psychological distress in COPD patients, while type D personality (coefficient = 3.463, P < 0.001), mMRC score (coefficient = 1.034, P < 0.001) and CAT score were independent risk factors (coefficient =.288, P < 0.001). No relationship was observed between psychological distress and knowledge of COPD. Psychological distress is commonly presented among COPD patients in China. Findings from this study suggest promoting and increasing frequency of exercise will be beneficial in reducing psychological distress among COPD patients. This study also highlights the importance of assessing personality type, dyspnea, and impact of COPD on daily living for preventing and managing psychological distress due to COPD. In addition, Given the high rate of psychological distress among COPD patients, policymakers should consider making mental health resources easily available and accessible to this vulnerable population.

Abstract

The occurrence of HIV-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compromises the physical and mental health of people living with HIV (PLWH). This study examined the psychological pathways of HIV-related PTSD symptoms considering the influence of rumination in PLWH of China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Changsha, China. The data were collected using the PTSD Checklist−Civilian Version, the Ruminative Response Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and measures of sociodemographic and HIV-related clinic characteristics. A total of 602 PLWH were surveyed. The average score of HIV-related PTSD symptoms was (34.54 ± 13.58). The mediation model showed that perceived social stigma and physical health exhibited direct associations with PTSD symptoms (β = 0.093, −0.145, respectively), while the direct relations of family support, friend support and significant others support to PTSD symptoms were not significant. Rumination mediated the effect of perceived social stigma (β = 0.077), physical health (β = −0.150), family support (β = −0.144) and friend support (β = −0.105) on PTSD symptoms. The study findings underscore the importance of routinely assessing PTSD for PLWH, and developing trauma-focused interventions that alleviate HIV-related PTSD symptoms and reduce rumination while improving social support and physical health and reducing social stigma.

Abstract

Background: In this updated Self-Care of Coronary Heart Disease Inventory (SC-CHDI) v3.0, items were added to better reflect the theory of self-care of chronic illness and revised based on recent research. The expanded SC-CHDI now reflects the theoretical concepts of self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SC-CHDI v3.0. Methods: In a sample of adults with coronary heart disease, we tested the SC-CHDI v3.0 validity with confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was calculated using Cronbach α, factor score determinacy coefficient, and global reliability index for multidimensional scales, with values > 0.70 considered adequate. Results: The sample (n = 205) was predominantly male (79%) with a mean age of 65.3 ± 11.1 years. The self-care maintenance scale encompassed 2 distinct behaviors, namely, “illness related behaviors” and “health promoting behaviors,” which reflect consulting and autonomous dimensions, respectively. The goodness-of-fit indices were adequate: χ2(25, N = 205) =31.86, P = .16, comparative fit index = 0.97, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.95, root mean square error of approximation = 0.04 (90% confidence interval, 0.00–0.07), P = .705, and standardized root mean square residual = 0.045. Analysis of the new self-care monitoring scale yielded a single factor; goodness-of-fit indices were excellent: χ2(12, N = 205) =11.56, P = .48, comparative fit index = 1.00, Tucker-Lewis Index = 1.00, root mean square error of approximation < 0.001 (90% confidence interval, 0.000–0.07), P = .86, and standardized root mean square residual = 0.02. The self-care management scale had 2 dimensions of autonomous and consulting behavior with strong goodness-of-fit indices: χ2(7, N = 205) =6.57, P = .47, comparative fit index = 1.00, Tucker-Lewis Index = 1.00, root mean square error of approximation ≤ 0.001 (90% confidence interval, 0.00–0.08), P = .76, and standardized root mean square residual = 0.02. Reliability estimates were ≥0.80 for all scales. Conclusions: Our testing suggests that the SC-CHDI v3.0 is a sound measure of the essential elements of self-care for adults with coronary heart disease.

Abstract

Background: Understanding alcohol use among nurses may inform interventions related to the coping mechanisms nurses use for workplace stress and trauma. Alcohol use can be caused by a variety of factors and has serious implications on a nurse's personal health and professional practice. Understanding psychosocial factors and preventive measures may assist in the development of interventions to improve coping mechanisms and reduce the incidence of alcohol misuse. Purpose: To review the psychosocial factors and preventive measures associated with alcohol use among nurses. Methods: For this integrative review, systematic searches were conducted in CINAHL, PubMed, PsychNet, and ProQuest Central. Included studies were peer-reviewed and addressed alcohol use among nurses in the United States. Articles were appraised using methods-specific tools indicated by the Whittemore and Knafl framework. Data were extracted and themes identified using constant comparison. Results: Of 6,214 nonduplicate articles screened, 78 were selected for full-text review and 13 were included after application of inclusion criteria. Synthesis resulted in four themes: (1) occupational stress and trauma, (2) workplace characteristics, (3) mental health implications, and (4) protective factors. The data show that workplace stress and trauma contribute to alcohol use among nurses. Night shifts, rotating shifts, and shift length are factors related to alcohol use, as are mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and suicide. Protective factors that reduce alcohol use among nurses include faith, resilience, and perceived organizational support. Conclusion: Alcohol use among nurses presents challenges for the nursing profession and regulatory bodies with specific and interrelated phenomena related to the role and identity of nurses. A better understanding of these factors through research will facilitate a healthier nursing workforce that is better prepared to take on the rewards and challenges of a nursing career.

Abstract

While home health agencies (HHAs) can seek accreditation to recognize their quality of service, it is unknown whether agencies with accreditation perform better in providing care than those without accreditation. Using 5-year data from national data sources, the aims of this study were: 1) to depict characteristics of HHAs with and without accreditation; and 2) to examine the relationship between accreditation status and HHA performance on quality-of-care metrics. This study analyzed 7,697 agencies in the US and found that 1) agencies that were for-profit, urban, not-hospital-affiliated, single-branch, Medicare enrolled only, and without hospice program were more likely to have accreditation; and 2) overall, accredited agencies performed better on the three commonly used quality indicators, timely initiation of care, hospitalization, and emergency department visit, though not all the observed differences were substantial in absolute value. Our results provide unique empirical information to agencies considering seeking accreditation.

Abstract

Medical expenses in the last year of life consume a large portion of healthcare expenditures, yet little is known about the relationship between medical expenditures in the last year of life and quality of death. Few empirical studies have investigated the association between timely medical treatment before dying and quality of death. This study aimed to examine the associations between medical expenditures in the last year of life, timely medical treatment before dying, and quality of death. Data derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), the largest national representative study of the oldest-old in China. Results from multinomial logistic regression suggested that higher medical expenses in the last year of life and lack of timely medical treatment before dying are associated with lower quality of death. These findings highlight an urgent need for strengthening education on death and dying, developing hospice and palliative care services, and improving pain management at the end of life in China.

Abstract

Background: Implementation of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines into practice has demonstrated improved outcomes. Local Problem: Compliance with a sepsis protocol, based on the SSC guidelines, in an urban teaching hospital was below the national average. Methods: A pre- and posttest intervention design was used to improve clinician knowledge, confidence, and compliance with the protocol. Interventions: Educational modules were developed on the SSC guidelines and reminder system alerts (RSA) for timely revaluation of patients with sepsis and lactate monitoring were implemented. Results: A total of 33 (48%) clinicians participated. There was an increase in knowledge, documentation of sepsis reassessment, and serum lactate monitoring. There was an improvement in clinician perceptions following the initiative. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that education, combined with RSAs, can improve protocol knowledge and compliance.

Abstract

Context: Consequent to increasing COVID-19 infection rates, the Palliative Care (PC) service at a large New England hospital shifted from in-person to telehealth-delivered PC (TPC). Objectives: We compared the quality of TPC to in-person PC during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted an electronic health record review of PC consultations of patients hospitalized during three periods: pre-COVID January, 2020-February, 2020 (in-person); peak-COVID March, 2020-June, 2020 (majority TPC); and post-peak September, 2020-October, 2020 (majority in-person). We examined the relationship between these periods and PC delivery characteristics and quality measures using descriptive and bivariate statistics. Results: Of 377 patients, 50 were pre-COVID (TPC=0%), 271 peak-COVID (TPC=79.3%), and 56 post-peak (TPC<2%) (representation of PC consult: pre- and post-peak=samples; peak-COVID=all consults). Mean age was 69.3 years (standard deviation=15.5), with 54.9% male, 68.7% White, and 22.8% Black. Age and sex did not differ by period. PC consultations were more likely for goals of care (pre=30.0% vs. peak=53.9% vs. post=57.1%; P = 0.005) or hospice (4.0% vs. 14.4% vs. 5.4%, P = 0.031) during peak-COVID compared to pre-COVID. Rates of assessment of physical (98.0% vs. 63.5% vs. 94.6%, P < 0.001) and psychological symptoms (90.0% vs. 33.1% vs. 67.9%, P < 0.001) were lower during peak relative to pre-COVID and post-peak periods. There were no differences in assessment of patients’ social needs, family burden, or goals of care across periods. Conclusion: The PC service provided high-quality inpatient PC using TPC despite significant strain during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Developing and testing strategies to promote comprehensive symptom control using TPC remains a priority to adjust to potential unmet PC needs.

Abstract

While safety should be a lifetime concern, aging brings it into sharper focus when a slow decline in all human functions commences and accommodations must be made to continue life with health, quality, and competence in life tasks and relationships. These normal declines, magnified by chronic diseases and health conditions increase vulnerability in older adults to the effects of commonly used substances. Safety can then be compromised using alcohol, tobacco, psychoactive drugs, medications, and food supplements which people ingest to alter state of mind, emotional well-being, and alleviate disease conditions and infirmities. Compromised safety can be the untoward side effect of seeking more optimal states, and older adults make choices to experience pleasure and attain pain-free states and freedom of movement. The most commonly used substance worldwide, alcohol, is legal, socially sanctioned, widely promoted, and relatively inexpensive but also the most damaging to health and safety. Tobacco is the mostly deadly, resulting in the deaths of close to 500,000 people annually and a contributing factor to 200 diseases and health conditions. This chapter identifies the scope of health and safety consequences of substances commonly used by adults over 60, detailing the safety risks of each class of drug and its detrimental health effects. While a relatively small proportion of older adults (5–6%) are ever diagnosed with a substance use disorder, many more engage in binge drinking and unhealthy levels of alcohol consumption and combine alcohol with prescribed and over-the-counter medications resulting in unsafe and at times, lethal results. Excessive levels of opioid analgesic prescribing have resulted in loss of life and severe opioid use disorders which compromise safety and quality of life for many older adults. Models of care that integrate screening and drug and alcohol interventions into primary care, expand harm reduction, and use public health approaches to raise awareness about the health implications of substance use hold promise for deterring upward trends in substance use among older adults. Policy initiatives are described as frameworks for additional interventions.

Abstract

Summary. This study aimed to identify, appraise, and summarize the available evidence relating to nurses’ attitudes, confidence in evidence-based practice (EBP), and facilitators and barriers for implementation of EBP in nursing.Methods. PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EBSCO (Nursing Reference Center Plus), and Google Scholar were searched from January 2010 to January 2021. Studies in English that met the following criteria were considered for inclusion: quantitative and qualitative research that assessed the most common facilitators and barriers for implementation of EBP in nursing practice; andnurses’ attitudes and confidence in using EBP in their daily routine.Results. Seventeen studies were included in the review. In quantitative studies, questionnaires were specifically developed for use in six while the other 10 used validated instruments. One qualitative study was included. In 12 studies, researchers reported elements of nurses’ attitudes and confidence about EBP. Facilitators to the implementation of EBP were explored in 11 studies, andbarriers were identified in 12 studies. Results of this review indicate that nurses face challenges in implementing EBP.Conclusion. To improve the use of EBP in nursing practice, nurses need to understand that nursing practice depends on some fundamental factors such as nurse education, computer literacy, work environment, experience, personal qualities, and colleagues around them. This literature review highlights the necessity of education in finding and accessing evidence, nurses’ autonomyover nursing practice, mentorship for successful implementation, and organizational support.

Abstract

This article aimed to explore the rehabilitation efficacy of intelligent rehabilitation training systems in hemiplegic limb spasms after stroke and provided more theoretical basis for the application of intelligent rehabilitation systems in the rehabilitation of hemiplegic limb spasms after stroke. To explore the rehabilitation efficacy of intelligent rehabilitation training system (RTS for short here) in post-stroke hemiplegic limb spasms, this study selected 99 patients with post-stroke hemiplegic limb spasms admitted to a local tertiary hospital from March 2021 to March 2023 as the research subjects. This article used blind selection to randomly divide them into three groups: control group 1, control group 2, and study group, with 33 patients in each group. Control group 1 used a conventional RTS, group 2 used the brain-computer interface RTS from reference 9, and research group used the intelligent RTS from this article. This article compared the degree of spasticity, balance ability score, motor function score, and daily living activity score of three groups of patients after 10 weeks of treatment. After 10 weeks of treatment, the number of patients in the study group with no spasms at level 0 (24) was significantly higher than the number of patients in group 1 (7) and group 2 (10), with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05); In the comparison of Barthel index scores, after ten weeks of treatment, the total number of people in the study group with scores starting at 71-80 and 81-100 was 23. The total number of people in the score range of 71-80 and 81-100 in group 1 was 5, while in group 2, the total number of people in this score range was 8. The study group scored considerably higher than the control group and the difference was found to be statistically relevant (P < 0.05). In the Berg balance assessment scale and motor function assessment scale, after 10 weeks of treatment, the scores of the study group patients on both scales were significantly higher than those of group 1 and group 2 (P < 0.05). The intelligent RTS is beneficial for promoting the improvement of spasticity in stroke patients with hemiplegic limb spasms, as well as improving their balance ability, motor ability, and daily life activities. Its rehabilitation effect is good.

Abstract

Background: Perinatal depression is a global mental health problem. Studies have suggested that perinatal depression is related to poor sleep quality during pregnancy. However, evidence on the influence and mechanism of sleep quality on the risk of developing perinatal depression remains limited and inconclusive. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHI and Cochrane Library for relevant original quantitative studies published in English. A hand search of the reference list of relevant studies was also performed. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan software and a random-effects model. Potential heterogeneity source was explored by subgroup and sensitivity analyses, and potential publication bias was tested using funnel plots and Begg's test. Results: A total of ten studies involving 39,574 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Overall, women who experienced poor sleep quality during pregnancy were at a significantly higher risk of developing depression, with antenatal depression 3.72 times higher, postpartum depression 2.71 times higher, and perinatal depression 3.46 times higher, compared to those did not experience poor sleep quality. Limitations: Different measuring tools and unobserved confounding factors may make some bias in our result. What's more, not all included studies were initially designed to assess the association between antenatal sleep quality and the risk of developing perinatal depression. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis found that antenatal sleep quality was negatively associated with the risk for perinatal depression. Our findings highlight the importance of improving sleep quality during pregnancy for mental health among perinatal women.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the relationship between nurse burnout, missed nursing care, and care quality following the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: Quality of care and missed nursing care can be consequences of nurse burnout. Little is known about how these factors related to nurse burnout following the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: This study used a cross-sectional correlational design and was conducted in 12 general hospitals across Thailand from August to October 2022. Methods: 394 nurses providing direct nursing care to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic completed the survey. The Emotional Exhaustion (EE) subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), MISSCARE survey, and quality of care reported by nurses were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to analyse the data. Results: Approximately thirty-six percent of nurses had burnout following the COVID-19 pandemic. Missed nursing care was higher among nurses with burnout. Most participants reported illness/symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, a lack of concentration, and sleeping problems. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, every additional unit of emotional exhaustion was associated with 1.61 times higher odds of missed nursing care, 3.37 times higher odds of poor quality of nurse care, and 2.62 times higher odds of poor quality of care for the overall unit. Conclusion: The study findings demonstrate that burnout is associated with missed nursing care and poor quality of care following the COVID-19 pandemic. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Policymakers, hospital administrators, and nurse managers should invest in strategies to reduce nurse burnout, which can increase patient safety and quality of care.

Abstract

Introduction: HIV and mental health problems are a global syndemic. One key issue is that the significant mental health problems among people vulnerable to acquiring or living with HIV have not been fully addressed. Access to social support has been one of the biggest challenges for HIV-positive men who have sex with men (HIV+ MSM). Lower social support has been linked to more severe depression symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying the association between social support and depression in HIV+ MSM are unclear. Two possible mediators include hope and psychological flexibility. This study aimed to examine the relationship between social support and depression in HIV+ MSM and to explore the single mediating effects of hope and psychological flexibility and the chain mediating effect of these two variables on this relationship. Methods: A convenience sample was used to recruit participants from the designated HIV/AIDS hospital in Changsha city, Hunan Province of China. A total of 290 HIV+ MSM completed questionnaires. Results: Our findings showed that hope mediated the relationship between social support and depression in HIV+ MSM. Furthermore, the chain mediation model confirmed a direct negative association between social support and depression, but this relationship was largely mediated by the chain effects of hope and psychological flexibility. Conclusions: Integrating hope and psychological flexibility into interventions may provide better mental health support for HIV+ MSM and improve their wellbeing and quality of life.

Abstract

Objective: To examine incidence of and resident characteristics associated with breakthrough infections (BTIs) and severe illness among residents with 2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccinations. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting and Participants: Nursing home (NH) residents who completed their primary series of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination by March 31, 2021. Methods: Electronic health records and Minimum Data Set assessments from a multistate NH data consortium were used to identify BTI and severe illness (a composite measure of hospitalization and/or death within 30 days of BTI) occurring prior to November 24, 2021. A t test for differences in means was used to compare covariates for residents with and without BTI. Finally, we estimated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for BTI with 95% CIs using a modified Poisson regression approach, comparing residents with BTI vs residents without. We adjusted for facility fixed effects in our model. Results: Our sample included 23,172 residents from 984 NHs who were at least 14 days past their second mRNA vaccine dose. Of those, 1173 (5%) developed an incident COVID-19 BTI (mean follow-up time: 250 days). Among residents with BTI, 8.6% were hospitalized or died within 30 days of BTI diagnosis. Factors associated with severe illness included age ≥85 years (IRR 2.08, 95% CI 1.08-4.02, reference age <65 years), bowel incontinence (IRR 1.73, 95% CI 1.01-2.99), coronary artery disease (IRR 1.96, 95% CI 1.31-2.94), chronic kidney disease (IRR 1.65, 95% CI 1.07-2.54), and schizophrenia (IRR 2.38, 95% CI 1.19-4.75). Conclusions and Implications: Among vaccinated NH residents, BTIs and associated severe illness are rare. Residents aged ≥85 years and with certain comorbidities appear to be the most vulnerable. Given that the pandemic continues and testing policies have relaxed, these data provide prognostic information for NH facilities faced with continued outbreaks.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Residential segregation profoundly affects mental and physical health. However, impacts of residential segregation and other neighborhood characteristics on health among older Asian Americans are not fully understood. This study aimed to close this gap by examining effects of residential segregation, perceived neighborhood cohesion, and neighborhood disorder on all-cause mortality among older Chinese immigrants, as well as testing whether the association between residential segregation and mortality would be mediated by perceived neighborhood cohesion and neighborhood disorder. METHODS: Data were drawn from a subsample of 3,094 older Chinese Americans aged 60 and older (mean age = 72.8 years) from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Residential segregation was derived using 2010-2014 American Community Survey data. Participants completed surveys on perceived neighborhood cohesion and neighborhood disorder between 2011 and 2013. All-cause mortality was tracked until December 2021. RESULTS: Residential segregation was associated with elevated all-cause mortality risk; this association, however, was no longer statistically significant after controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health covariates. Perceived neighborhood cohesion, but not neighborhood disorder, was significantly associated with decreased mortality risks. There were no indirect effects of residential segregation on all-cause mortality through perceived neighborhood cohesion or neighborhood disorder. These effects were consistent across male and female participants. DISCUSSION: These results suggest the importance of neighborhood social environment, specifically perceptions of neighborhood cohesion, in influencing mortality risk among older Chinese immigrants. The findings also indicate the need to conduct further research to examine the health impact of residential segregation among this population.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRs) may contribute to disease etiology by influencing gene expression. Numerous databases are available for miR target prediction and validation, but their functionality is varied, and outputs are not standardized. The purpose of this review is to identify and describe databases for cataloging validated miR targets. Using Tools4miRs and PubMed, we identified databases with experimentally validated targets, human data, and a focus on miR-messenger RNA (mRNA) interactions. Data were extracted about the number of times each database was cited, the number of miRs, the target genes, the interactions per database, experimental methodology and key features of each database. The search yielded 10 databases, which in order of most cited to least were: miRTarBase, starBase/The Encyclopedia of RNA Interactomes, DIANA-TarBase, miRWalk, miRecords, miRGator, miRSystem, miRGate, miRSel and targetHub. Findings from this review suggest that the information presented within miR target validation databases can be enhanced by adding features such as flexibility in performing queries in multiple ways, downloadable data, ongoing updates and integrating tools for further miR-mRNA target interaction analysis. This review is designed to aid researchers, especially those new to miR bioinformatics tools, in database selection and to offer considerations for future development and upkeep of validation tools. Database URL http://mirtarbase.cuhk.edu.cn/

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psychological well-being is important among individuals with myocardial infarction (MI) given the clear links between stress, depression, and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Stress and depressive disorders are more prevalent in women than men after MI. Resilience may protect against stress and depressive disorders after a traumatic event. Longitudinal data are lacking in populations post MI. We examined the role of resilience in the psychological recovery of women post MI, over time. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed a sample from a longitudinal observational multicenter study (United States, Canada) of women post MI, between 2016 and 2020. Perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4 [PSS-4]) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2 [PHQ-2]) were assessed at baseline (time of MI) and 2 months post MI. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and resilience (Brief Resilience Scale [BRS]) were collected at baseline. Low and normal/high resilience groups were established as per published cutoffs (BRS scores <3 or ≥3). Mixed-effects modeling was used to examine associations between resilience and psychological recovery over 2 months. The sample included 449 women, mean (SD) age, 62.2 (13.2) years, of whom 61.1% identified as non-Hispanic White, 18.5% as non-Hispanic Black, and 15.4% as Hispanic/ Latina. Twenty-three percent had low resilience. The low resilience group had significantly higher PSS-4 and PHQ-2 scores than the normal/high resilience group at all time points. In adjusted models, both groups showed a decrease in PSS-4 scores over time. CONCLUSIONS: In a diverse cohort of women post MI, higher resilience is associated with better psychological recovery over time. Future work should focus on developing strategies to strengthen resilience and improve psychological well-being for women with MI. REGISTRATION: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02905357; Unique identifier: NCT02905357.